For Christ Sake!
As we continue in our series called “New” from the book of Zechariah we are given an interesting story in Zechariah chapter seven.
Several men who have returned from captivity in Babylon come to the priest and prophets wondering whether they should continue fasting in the seventh and ninth months of the year.
Zechariah speaks through the power of God and questions their motive for fasting while in captivity and even asking them to consider what motivates them to eat and drink.
With all acts of religious devotion I think it’s valid that we ask the same. Why do we pray? Why do we read and study God’s word? Why come to church? Why live out our faith in any meaningful way?
It’s important that we see in this passage that religion is not for religions sake, but it is for Christ sake. All acts of worship should be motivated by the work of the spirit in us and for the witness of the spirit to those around us.
So a life of true religion is driven by two things. First, is the work of the Spirit. God, through Zechariah, begins by questioning the motivation of the fasting. It is true that we can do religious acts but if they are not for the correct reason, they have little to no value. Fasting can change your body, but fasting and prayer will change your life!
The sad truth is, we have a culture full of people who claim Christ but have never been changed by Christ. We must examine our hearts to see if the message of the gospel has transformed us to be more like Jesus. This is the inward expression of a life of true religion. Where our motivation is for Christ sake.
We recognize that this is not ONLY internal. In Zechariah 7:8-10 we are given some practical ways we live out this faith authentically.
We are told to, “make fair decisions, and show love and compassion to one one another.” God wants his people to treat others with fairness, justice and kindness. How are we treating one another? God want’s us to pray, yes, but prayer should lead us into a deeper love for those around us.
Are we truly compassionate? Do we allow petty grudges to drive a wedge between us? God’s Spirit should always lead to unity so we must lay aside our differences and follow God wholly.
How do we treat those who are considered “less than” or “unimportant”? James 1:27 tells us, “Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
My dad always said to me while I was growing up, “The measure of a man is how he treats someone who is of absolutely no value to him” Do we treat those around us as valuable even if our culture says that they are not?
I worry that far too often the attendees of American’s 400,0000+ churches leave after each Sunday service and are rude and impatient to servers at restaurants in their cities. Let this not be true of us! How do we speak about the homeless. What is our heart towards the addict? Are we people who truly love others as we should?
We also consider here, what is in our heart? Jesus challenged some highly-religious people in Matthew 23:27-28 saying, “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You’re like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds.” (MSG)
The point of all of this, the way we are and the way we live, is it should all be for Christ sake. Jesus is not simply a “get out of hell free” card. He’s a loving and merciful savior who wants to be the Lord of your life! Jesus want’s us to live the abundant life that God has for us here and now, but how often do we forfeit that in the pursuit of cheap, prideful, self-gratifying religion?
Questions to go deeper:
What is one thing that stood out to you from this week's message or your small group?
Did Zechariah answer whether or not the people should fast as they had? Why or why not?
How can Christians actively pursue authenticity? Is there anything hindering your ability to be completely authentic?
Have you ever overcome empty religious activity? What did that process look like for you?
